"Those who wish to replace (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu
and form a better government for Israel cannot form new parties that will remain small and compete for the same pool of voters without offering a real alternative," Yachimovich said during a cultural event in Tel Aviv on Saturday.

"The only alternative to Netanyahu is the Labor Party headed by me. Those who wish to overthrow Netanyahu and bolster the centrist bloc must join Labor," the journalist-turned-politician said.

Livni is expected to announce her return to politics in the coming days.